Kiri Deonarine

Soprano Kiri Deonarine, a second-year Ryan Opera Center member, previously spent two seasons as a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio. While at HGO she appeared in The Elixir of Love (Adina), Peter Grimes, Dead Man Walking, Così fan tutte (Despina), The Marriage of Figaro, and Ariadne auf Naxos (Najade). She also participated in the Apprentice Singer Program at The Santa Fe Opera in 2009 and 2010. Originally from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, the soprano earned a bachelor's degree in music education from Baylor University and studied at the Technische Universität Dresden Institute of Advanced Studies before pursuing a master's degree in vocal performance at Indiana University. Honors include selection as a Grand Finalist in the 2009 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a 2010 George London Vocal Competition Award, and, in 2012, awards from the American Opera Society and the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation. She recently sang the Fauré Requiem with the Milwaukee Symphony under the baton of Edo de Waart and Teutile/Vivaldi's Motezuma with Mercury Baroque (Houston), and was featured in concerts with the Grant Park Music Festival and as part of the live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion at the Ravinia Festival. In the 2011-12 season, Deonarine made her Lyric Opera debut as Echo/Ariadne auf Naxos, later performing Pamina/The Magic Flute student matinees and A Siren/Rinaldo. This season at Lyric she will appear in Elektra, Werther (as Sophie), and Hansel and Gretel.